Effects of mobility level on participation in school age children with neurological pediatric diseases

The primary goal of our study was to determine and compare the reasons that limit the mobility of pediatric neurological patients. Total 63 children aged between 5 and 15 years and their families were included. Participants were selected from the Special Education Institutions in the Istanbul province and the patients continuing to various Physical Therapy Centers. An Evaluation Questionnaire prepared by us, trunk and lower extremity muscle strength tests for those in appropriate condition, Gross Motor Function Measure-88, Functional Mobility Scale, Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument and Modified Barthel Index were applied to the children and their families and the results were saved. Analysis of the results was performed using the SPSS 18 program using p <0.05 significance level. Most of the Participants were Cerebral Palsy. Children's mobility levels were related to participation (p<0.001). Mobility and lower extremity muscle forces (p<0.001) and trunk muscle forces (p<0,01) were related. It was found that the school attendance were related to mobility (p<0,01), participation (p<0.001), independence (p<0.001) and Gross motor function levels (p<0,05). Gross motor function level was related to participation (p<0.001). Children's lower extremity muscle forces were strongly related to participation (p<0.001) and trunk muscle forces (p<0,01). In our study, it was determined that school aged children with neurological illness the level of mobility affects their participation. Level of independence, gross motor function level and muscle forces effect level of mobility. There are factors that affect participation such as Gross motor function level and muscle force. It has been found that time spent at school affected by mobility, participation and independence levels.